The
Gift
ApplesBefore I left Manila, Romy gave me stationery with cartoon children on it and said to write him. My hands were sticky because we’d just eaten some ice cream, so the gift wrap stuck to my fingers. I remember looking at the small card with “Mila” written on it and realizing I’d never seen Romy’s handwriting before. Two years and I’d never seen his writing.
I saw the same stationery in a*****e the next day when I was on an errand for Ate Clara. It was in the window along with a doll and toy truck. Before we left, I gave the stationery to the Gonzalez’s maid, Cely. Romy won’t write me back anyway. He didn’t even come by the day Kuya and Ate left although he could have.
Luz, who’s the only one who writes, says that Nanay’s well. She doesn’t even mention Romy, although I’m sur
